contact us
ResetUpDown

Make a Donation

Mural Estimator

Volunteer Opportunities

Job Opportunities

Online Forms

Feedback

Directions to
MOCAH

908 Wood Street
Ste. 150
Houston, Texas 77002
Office: 713.224.2787
fax: 713.224.5116

Mickey Leland Memorial Park
 
Our Collection

ResetUpDown
Mickey Leland Memorial Park, located 3701 Calvacade, 5th Ward Houston, Texas.

October 1997, Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee and staff sent out a request for proposals for artists or artists teams to submit designs for The Mickey Leland Memorial Park. Our original team was comprised of artists, Reginald Adams, Troy Gooden, Jose Solis, and Kirk McMillan. Kirk McMillan was replaced by Eric Stephenson due to personal issues and schedule conflicts that Kirk was facing. After weeks of meetings and design sessions, the deadline for submissions had approached. Our proposal was selected from a vast pool of submissions from across the state. When the smoke cleared there were two proposals standing, ourselves and George Sacaris, a sculptor and art teacher for the University of Houston. The county liked both proposals but only one team could be selected. After meeting with the county and hearing there concerns about the final projects we were asked to consider combining elements from both of our designs. Only a few design meetings were needed to integrate aspects of each proposal into a comprehensive design that the county and the artists were pleased with. After three years of planning and construction the historic 5th Ward community is now home to one of Houston's greatest public art monuments, the newly completed Mickey Leland Memorial Park. .

The purpose of the park was to provide a living memorial for late State Representative and global humanitarian, George "Mickey" Leland. The site selected for the park was the original location of Barbara Jordan and Mickey's first office. Flagstone from the office building were kept and are now part of the flagstone mosaic that surrounds the 'Beacon of Light" and the "Exedra".

The Beacon of Light, an obelisk at the front of the park was an element from George Sacaris' proposal that was adapted into the overall design of the park. The front side of the three sided obelisk is polished black marble with inscriptions of the elements of the park along with the names of the artists, county officials and collaborating partners. The other sides of the obelisk are finished in frosted glass with stainless steel framing. At night the obelisk is lit by a search light the beams towards the heavens serving as the "Beacon of Light" for the community.
.
 
Museum Of Cultural Arts
Houston, © 1999-2005 MOCAH is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization		  
   
  Click here to add this page to your favorites  


View map of
Our Collection


Ryan Middle School
Spark Park
11/2005


Worksource
Northside Mural
11/2005


Wendel Ley
YMCA 2005
07/2005
East end


Rucker Mural
Summer 2005
07/2005
Southeast Houston


ArtKidTeks


Ortiz Middle
School 2005
06/2005
Southeast Houston


Edison Middle
School Summer
2005
06/2005
East Houston


ArtKidTeks
@ Edison Middle
School
06/2005
East Houston


Edison Middle
School Doorways
Part. 3
05/2005
East Houston


Edison Middle
School Doorways
Part. 2
12/2004
East Houston


Edison Middle
School Spark Park
12/2004
East Houston


Port of Houston Mosaic mural
11/2004
East Houston


Cultures of our World
Lee HS, Southwest
9/2004
SW Houston


Learn, Educate, Graduate ALTA Charter School
8/2004
East Houston


Harlem Elementary
Spark Park
5/2004
Baytown Texas

METRO Light Rail Station Design,
Fannin South Park & Ride
1/2004
South Central

Greenspoint Banner Project: Greenspoint
11/2003
North Houston

Doorways to the Future 6901 Ave I Southeast
6/2003
East Houston

Project Grow Fifth Ward
5/2003
East Houston

Garcia Mosaic Project 9550 Aldine-Westfield
5/2003
Northeast Houston

"VERB: It’s What You Do" Aims to Spark "Activity Movement"
5/2003
Among Kids City-wide

Patrick Henry Middle School Mural Project,
10702
E. Hardy. Northeast

Marshall Middle School Mural Project,
1/2003
1115 Noble St. Near Northside

Yo Houston: 5th Ward Mural Project,
1,2003
Northside

Chevron Texaco,
9/2002,
1111 Bagby St. Downtown

Read to Succeed, , Aldine Branch Library,
8/2002
11331 Airline Dr. Greenspoint

True Glory, , South Post Oak Baptist Church,
7/2002
13950 Hillcroft. Southwest

Phillis Wheatley Mural Project,
5/2002
4900 Market. Fifth Ward

Self-Discovery, , Depelchin Children's Center,
4/2002
100 Sandman
Memorial/Heights

World Is In Our Hands, , Jeff Davis High School,
12/2001
1101 Quitman.
Near Northside

MOCAH Movement Mural Project, , Deluxe Theater,
6/2001
3305 Lyons Ave.
Fifth Ward

Soaring to New Heights Mural Project, , Harvard Elementary School,
5/2001
810 Harvard
Heights

Stovall Middle School SPARK Park, , Stovall Middle School,
4/2001
11201 Airline Dr.
Greenspoint


Rogers Elementary School SPARK Park


Scarborough Elem. School SPARK Park

Fruits of 5th Ward Mural Project, , Lyons Village,
11/2000
3300 Lyons Ave.
Fifth Ward

El Centro De Corazon Mural Project, El Centro De Corazon,
7/2000,
5001 Navigation St.
East End

Mickey Leland Memorial Park,
6/2000
3501 Cavalcade
Kashmere Gardens

Sky's the Limit Mural Project,
5/2000
North Main St. @ Quitman
North Main

E.O. Smith Middle School SPARK Park,
4/2000,
1701 Bringhurst St.
Fifth Ward

U of H Graduate School of Social Work Mural,
1/2000
U of H Central Campus
Third Ward

SHAPE Mural Project, 8/1999
SHAPE Community
Center, Live Oak
Third Ward

Collective Mural Project, , Community Artists Collective,
8/1999
1501 Elgin Ave.
Midtown


Freedmen's Town Mural Project, , Gregory Lincoln Elementary School,
7/1999
1011 Taft St.
Fourth Ward


E.O. Smith Middle School SPARK Park


Carnegie Elementary School SPARK Park


Lockhart Elementary School SPARK Park

Moody Park Mural Project, , Moody Park,
5/1998
3701 Fulton St.
Near Northside

Texas Children’s Hospital, , Feigin Cancer Center,
1/1998
6621 Fannin St.
Medical Center